The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1887-06-17

young Asher was heir TO. lying along
the littls deep river which bordered
his fathers wide farm. Their nearest
neighbor. whose estate also lay on the |
river. was Major Cuthbertson. VI an
old and aristocratic English family. |
the bricks IN whose old Colonial man
sion had been brought from England. |
- well - some 81 is carved mantel-
pieces And every year boxes Of goods,
lute-strings. tafFctas. brocades. how.
cred dimitys. % say nothin Of fuckers.
rufilcs. silk hose. satin shoes and the
like came from there. also
AS tokens Of their elegance. Il was
toll among their humber townsfoiks
that every room In the Majors house
was papered. and that ~ the marriage
Of Dolly Cuthbertson. the eldest
daughter. all the wood they burned
that night was first sawed and planed;
while once. when the Major WAS sick.
some one going in found the wife sit
ting beside his bedside crying with her
white kid gloves on In short the
Cuthbertsons were regarded IS the
great family Of the neighborhood. and
the Bradshaws may be considered next
| in social rank. and were always on the
most friendly terms. while Asher and
little Mercy Cuthbcrtson were play
mates from childhood. went together
| to school taught by the ancient maiden
lady at Stanberry Center; hunted In
company on holidays for flowers or
nuts, Is the season might be; and
once. when Mercy. missing her foot
ing. fell into the river, Asher, then but
| boy, plunged in and saved her at the
risk Of his own life; all Of which
seemed to bind their friendship the
firmer-
but. by and BY. Mercy began to
grow from child into tall. slender
girl. and then was sent away 70 school
at Boston, while Asher remained Al
home TO fit himself for college under
the tutorship sf the Stanberry min
ister. And every time she returned
| il seemed to Asher that she was fairc'
and more stately than before. and !
strange shyness and reserve took tn
place Of the Old frank comradeship. =
. he realized that his affection for tn
child had changed into love for IN
woman Mercy. And as for Mercy
when Asher. grown SO tall and manly
dofFed his hat to her with oid-fash
toned ceremony. the color would hus
her checks deeper pink; and = 50
a courtesied demurely In return. 1t wa
with fiuttering Of her heart agains
its satin stomacher. while their tai
changed from its former freedom an
: cayety. 70 such formal topics Is had b
heard whether ship had lstel
arrived at Boston from England
or how did she enjoy the poems
Mistress Anne Dudly. the tenth mus
which he had lent her? have seen
miniature Of Mercy Cuthbertso
painted At the age when Asher Bra
shaw was worshipping her afar o.
delicate. high-bred face, set with . C
- tain proud poise on her slender nee
dimpbed. fine-curvcd mouth, =
dark eyes. and fringe OF loose Gu
Ais falling about the broad. white forehes
A picture that proved Asher did .
need to regard her with partial eyes
call her beautiful. OF course. thou
Stanberry Was but small place, u y
not without its mild festivities ~
teas in the low. Colonial parlorsf -
now and then = country ball where
besux in queues. rufies and SIN
clothes and the bellies in powder
hair and stiff brocadcs. danced
! m stately minuet and where n
hardly say Mercy Cuthbertson'
smiled imparually or All, to the desp
~ Asher. was never IN want OF
=. partner.
.But another and more absorb
!. subject than poetry and merry-mak
began to fill the public mind; the
low but portenteous murnur O
storm so sosn 20 burst. and comPsE
- Sons Of Liberty began 70 be form
80 and such words A. taxation 80
rights and freedom began % be Of
N on mems lips And ~ the agitas
neo increased and deepcned, and lines
the feeling became more defined. many
lair intimacy was sundered. and friends
'nre alienatcd and affection qucnched
neighbors found themselves on OF
Ina site sides. and too often members
Ions the same household At variance on
nily great question Stanberry was no
and cepsion 70 this rule. fG Major y
. Il bertson had been m officer in the Nj
army. and counted disloyality 70
.ali- Sovereign - almost sin against
no ! Heaven; and Squire Bradshaw
and with equal tenarity. that 70 stand
puld the defense Of the Colonies was
MrN supreme duty Of . patriot; v
con- Asher. when the alarm sounded
Concord. FASTENED TO don the Y
- mental uniform. and gather his 70
sdy, townsmen into accompany.
wss s.During these stirring events nc
K 20 seen but little Of Mercy; but the 80
.thcr alton only made her the dearcr. an
Lib fcas that he could not 50 out 70 dan
,ong and Il might be to death. VII
- ~w1t.~h HE II